Council urges protection of historic olive grove - World - National Council of Churches, West Bank - Brief Article

National Catholic Reporter, August 16, 2002 by Gill Donovan

WEST BANK: The National Council of Churches has asked Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to protect the olive groves that produce oil used in lamps at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

The council's general secretary, Bob Edgar, wrote to Sharon to demand that he halt plans to seize property owned by the Armenian Orthodox church. According to Edgar's letter, plans call for a barrier to be erected that would run through the property.

"We respectfully ask you to do everything in your power to assist in resolving this matter in a way that ensures the return of this holy site to its rightful owners, and that guarantees the protection of the Armenian and other religious minorities living in Israel."

The property, known as Baron Der, is located on the northern outskirts of Bethlehem. The church has owned the land since 1641 and it includes administration buildings, a religious retreat, olive groves and an archaeological site.

Edgar said destroying the groves would eliminate income gained from the trees--"another blow to a minority Christian community there that already is tremendously stressed." Some of the trees are 500 years old.

Briefs gathered from news services, correspondents and staff, are compiled and edited by Gill Donovan.